Demystifying Sports Supplements: A Guide to Key Ingredients
Understanding the Labels: What's Inside Your Sports Supplements?
Agmatine Sulfate:
Metabolite of L-arginine that enhances nitric oxide production for vasodilation and increased blood flow
Ashwagandha Extract:
Reduces stress, boosts energy and testosterone, supports vitality, mood, and sexual health (including promoting mental calmness and better sleep by lowering cortisol levels)
B Vitamins:
Support energy metabolism, enhancing workout endurance and performance
Bai Zhu:
Traditional herb known for appetite stimulation; supports a healthy digestive system
Beta Alanine:
Enhances endurance by boosting muscle carnosine levels, buffering acid buildup, and delaying fatigue, particularly during high-intensity activities
Betaine:
Enhance creatine production, contributing to increased strength and power; Increases strength and regulates hydration for better performance; Naturally occurring compound that may increase nitric oxide levels, supporting vasodilation; Regulates hydration and supports overall cellular health
Black Pepper Extract:
Enhance absorption of other ingredients, maximizing their effectiveness; Enhances nutrient absorption, bioavailability, and increases the efficacy of other compounds for improved performance; Enhances nutrient absorption, maximizing gummy benefits
Caffeine Anhydrous:
Boosts energy, mental alertness, and metabolic rate; Provides quick energy, mental alertness, and focus; Stimulate the central nervous system, increasing alertness, focus, and energy
Calcium:
Supports bones, teeth, and muscle contractions during exercise, reducing cramps; Supports hormonal balance and reduces estrogen dominance, promoting overall well-being
Choline Bitartrate:
Supports memory and liver function
Creatine (Monohydrate and HCL):
Boosts strength and power, enhancing overall performance
Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL:
Similar to creatine monohydrate, this ingredient enhances muscular energy for improved performance, with improved solubility for potentially better absorption
Creatine Monohydrate:
Boosts phosphocreatine levels for rapid energy, enhancing strength and power
Damiana:
Traditionally used for libido, mood, and sexual function
Diindolylmethane:
Promotes healthy estrogen metabolism, maintaining a balanced estrogen-to-testosterone ratio, and may also support hormonal balance, reduce inflammation, and promote prostate health
Fenugreek Seed Extract:
Supports testosterone, reproductive health, and athletic performance
Fu Ling Powder:
Supports a healthy digestive system, improves appetite; may relieve water retention
Ginger Root Extract:
Known for digestive benefits, alleviating discomfort; enhances food palatability and stimulates appetite
Glycerol Monohydrate:
Retains water to reduce dehydration risk and improve exercise performance
Glycerol Monostearate:
Retains water, promoting hydration
Green Tea Extract:
Promotes relaxation and better sleep by reducing stress and anxiety with its epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC) content. Additionally, it's rich in antioxidants that aid fat oxidation (burning) and stimulate thermogenesis (increased body heat generation), ultimately contributing to higher calorie burning.
Guarana Extract:
Sustained energy release and cognitive support
Himalayan Rock Salt with Trace Minerals:
Provide essential minerals and electrolytes, supporting proper hydration and preventing cramping
Huperzine A:
Enhances cognitive function, improving mental clarity, focus, and mind-muscle connection during workouts, ultimately supporting overall brain health
Inulin:
Regulates appetite and controls nighttime cravings, promoting a healthy gut microbiome
L-Arginine:
Precursor to nitric oxide, crucial for vasodilation and increased blood flow to working muscles
L-Carnitine L-Tartrate:
Facilitates energy production by promoting fat utilization through enhanced fatty acid transport into mitochondria, while also reducing muscle soreness and potentially improving endurance by sparing glycogen.
L-Citrulline Malate (2:1):
Increases nitric oxide production, promoting improved blood flow and reducing fatigue for enhanced nutrient delivery and workout performance
L-Glutamine:
Offers a multi-faceted approach to health, potentially enhancing muscle recovery by aiding muscle repair and reducing soreness, supporting the immune system by providing an energy source for immune cells, and promoting gut health by maintaining the intestinal barrier and potentially preventing leaky gut
L-Taurine:
Acts as an antioxidant, reducing exercise-induced oxidative stress and supporting muscle function, which can aid in post-exercise recovery
L-Tyrosine:
This amino acid supports neurotransmitter production, enhancing mental focus, motivation during exercise, mood, resilience, and potentially thyroid function
Magnesium:
Acts as a testosterone booster, supporting muscles and nerves, and reducing inflammation. It's also essential for nitric oxide production, promoting vasodilation and blood flow during exercise. Additionally, magnesium promotes physical relaxation by supporting calming neurotransmitters, improving sleep quality, and regulating estrogen levels, potentially easing symptoms of estrogen dominance. Finally, it supports muscle relaxation, reducing cramps for better performance, and plays a vital role in ATP synthesis and maintaining bone health.
Mucuna Extract:
Support dopamine levels, potentially enhancing mood and motivation during training, while also supporting testosterone, mood, sexual health, and fertility
Potassium and Sodium:
Works to balance fluids and electrolytes, which is crucial for optimal muscle function, nerve regulation, and can help reduce dehydration and muscle cramps
Saw Palmetto:
Supports men's health by inhibiting testosterone-to-estrogen conversion, promoting hormonal balance, and supporting prostate and overall reproductive health
Sodium:
A key electrolyte plays a vital role in maintaining fluid balance, regulating blood pressure, and supporting blood flow during exercise. Additionally, it helps maintain electrolyte balance, which is crucial for nerve function and muscle contractions
Vitamin D3:
Facilitates calcium absorption to support bones, muscles, and immune function. It also regulates estrogen levels, promoting hormonal balance and contributing to overall bone health.
Zinc:
Aids estrogen metabolism and maintaining a healthy hormonal balance, while also being essential for testosterone and reproductive health. Additionally, it supports overall immune function and promotes better sleep by regulating sleep-wake cycles and aiding serotonin production